Plenty of cities across the nation have strong job markets, low costs of living, a friendly community atmosphere—and homes that sell for less than a quarter million dollars.
Business Insider named the 25 best metro areas to find a house for $250,000 or less, based on the median home price.
Places on the list range from large markets such as Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and the three largest cities in Texas (Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas) to smaller metros such as Harrisburg, Pa., Portland, Maine, and Boise, Idaho.
Fayetteville, Ark., was ranked first. Though small, with a metro population of less than 500,000, the city has a median home price of $182,508.
The surrounding area of northwest Arkansas is home to headquarters for seven Fortune 500 companies including Walmart and Tyson Foods. Fayetteville has experienced immense growth, according to a local expert, who said the region has evolved "from a small town to a center of higher education, culture, commerce, and entrepreneurialism."
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